Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-09-05
CONVICT HORRORS.
The Brutality Of Kee pers
Being Brought TO Light
in Georgia.
A Fieudish Whipping Boss by The
Name Of Brya t--sie Picks up
His Traps and Fiees.

ATLANTA, Ga, Sept. 3.-Revelations
of the horrors of the Georgia conyicts
camps are coming now like an avalanche.
The last developments are at the Gress-
ton saw mill camp, in Dodge county.
The fact was tetegraphed that six CON
victs from that camp had been delivered
to the sheriff of the county, that they
might be taken before the grand jury to
testify rs to ill-treatment by the whip
ping boss. IT now appears that the boss
will be indicted for murder. About two
weeks ago the superior court convened
in Dodge county, and the grand jury APP
| pointed a specicl committee to invest
| igate the matter. The committee consisted
of leading citizens, among whom were
r. l.. Burton, editor of the Dodge County
Journal, Rev. r. ID. Gentry, u Methodist
minister, and DIR. Harris Fisher, a promi-
mont physician. The committee came
back horrifled, and made q report to the
grand jury which has not been made pub
lie because it is to be the basis of the in.
sdictment.
The whipping boss, whose name is
Bryant, is said to have worked a con-
vict to death. This convict was running
slabs out from the mill and dumping
them Into a big fire which was kept to
prevent their accumulation. He was
sick and unable to work, and told these
in charge of him, but Bryant urged him
on with the lash and kept him to work.
1t Was during the intense heat of July,
made more intolerable by the great Arc
into which the unfortunate negro had IL
dump hes slabs. Finally his torture was
work.
AS the details of the outrage leaked
out there was a feeling of intense indig-
nation in b community. Bryant. hear
ing the first mutterings of the coming
storm, fed before IL. 1t is thought that
he is now in Alabama. Representative
buchanan, the Dodge county member OF
the Legislature, said today:
Il was at home when the COMMITTEES
returned from this camp and had a con.
yersation With them. They did not tell
me what report they would make, blu,
they said the camp was In q very bad
condition and there would be an sffor,
made to bring Bryant to justice for the
death of this negro. 1t was said that he
WAS sick and received y very severe beat,
ing from Bryant about a month Age HI
died on the works. The court was. in
session. and the jury had the matter un.
der consideration when j left. They will
probably act upon 1t this week vet,
From what 1 heard, the committee tina,
visited the camp seemed to be very Ger.
tain that there would be a prosecution
for murder. talked with Burton and
the Methodist preacher who were on the
committee. They did not see the dead
negro, for he had died about a month
ago, but they got evidence about the
whipping. 1t was clear that he ~recaiyed
q very severe beating and was forced to
work during that very hot spell.n
What was the sentiment Of the com.
munity on the subjectg,
at was the general talk thet there had
been a gross outrage committed. 1t was
believed by the public. Our people are
very much incensed against the manage
ment of this camp, they don't like the
system.
Senator Roberts, of whose district
Dodge county is q part, says: 1.-THE com
mittee was composed OF the best citizens
of the county, including r:physician, DR..
Harris Fisher. l understood from. one OF
them that on Investigation they had as.
certainad that tie negro was worked to
death, That was the statement to me,
! understood that he frequently com
planned to the authorities, but they re-
fused to listen TO him, and he worked till
he fell dead. l understood that they
We're going to make application fer a
number OF witnesses from the camp to
come down to court to prefer a bill of in
dlctmena against Bryant, the whipping
boss, for murder
What ia the feeling III Eastman about
itYn
"There is a good bit of feeling there
against the camp. Everybody seems to
be Mortified The committee said to me
that they found the sanitary arrange
ment OF the camp in q very deplorable
condition.
This is not the first Sime trouble has
occurred at the Dodge county camn.
About four years ago a negro ran away
The managers supposed he would make
his escape by the railroad, and sent q
guard np the road to intercept him. The
guard went to the cut below the station,
where there had been an old mill, After
some. time he heard the clanking OF
chains, and knew that the negro was
coming. The negro came in sight and
was shot dead. The guard said he halted
the negro and he ran, Ths statement
WAS c~ontroverted by the fact that every
shot was fired into the negroes breast In
front. The coroner's jury whitewashed
the guard, and he was allowed to 90. but
the reward for Dodge county is not all
given in the above. There is on file i IN
the state house, where it was found and
copied, the following report, made some
time ago by the assistant keeper of the
p~enitentiary;
Visited w. B. Loves camp, part OF
pinitentiary No, 2, at Steelss mills, in
Dodge county. This / found In a bad
condition, and many complaints as to the
MANAGEMENT and conduct OF the overseer,
a Mr.. Bryant. First, he would not allow
the sick to stay in the hospital as ordered
by the doctor III charge; second, the
women at this camp, four in number, com
planned that Bryant compelled them ,sll
to submit to his carnal desires, and that
he would threaten them with the lash ii
they did not submit. One of the women
is now pregnant, and tells me that Bry-
ant is the father Of the unborn in.-At.n
A Dose That stfled Him.
PALESTINE, Tex, Sept. 3.--Mr, H. Rob-
berson, living In WHIST Palestine, asked a
member Of the family for some milk to
take a dose of medicine in. He poured a
powder in the milk, remarking. "This
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